A Splash of Blue

An American Darling. Virginia Beach, VA.
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"You know you're a firefighter when you really think that rusty old hydrant looks good in the garden." ~ Author Unknown

The original company designing and building these patterns for fire hydrants was Darling Valve, located in Williamsport, PA. The Darling company made hydrants from 1902 until 1969 when they were bought by American Cast Iron Pipe Co (ACIPCO) in Birmingham, Alabama. When the Darling Company became "American Darling", these hydrants were being cast in Beaumont, Texas. This hydrant has the word "Beaumont" cast in the body. Ten years later, new owners American Valve and Hydrant. This hydrant was probably made in the '60's and the originals were often painted red and white to be seen easily by firefighters. I wonder how many times it was re-painted and where did that small splash of blue come from? Was it an accident or a bit of patriotic flare?

Second entry in "fire hydrant" series. First entry here. (end of post)

A Simple Daisy?

A daisy. Remarkable indeed.
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"When words escape, flowers speak." ~ Bruce W. Currie

A simple daisy? Not very remarkable until examined closely. So many varieties with petals of pink, white, yellow, lavender, cream and here bright white with a central tinge of deep amethyst. Each variety with a unique center; here taking the form of crowded tiny, deep navy "flowerettes" having six rounded "petals" each; three dimensional and slightly mounded. At the center's edge a single rim of bright tangerine; a pollen coated ring. These never fail to conjure up pictures of gossamer winged fairies with wreaths of bright flowers adorning their tiny heads.

So, just a simple daisy? Nothing "simple" here. Remarkable indeed.

Submission to PhotoFriday topic "remarkable". (end of post)

Miss Clover Speaks Out

Miss Clover: "Oh, no here she comes again!"
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"Is it yet another survival of jungle instinct, this hiding away from prying eyes at important times? Or merely a gesture of independence, a challenge to man and his stupid ways?" ~ Michael Joseph

"How many times is this going to happen? I am cozy here, resting in my box in the sunroom, soaking up the rays and there she is with that camera again! It has this annoying red flashy thing that blinks in my eyes. She says it makes me in focus. I just want to be left alone. Look! What does that say on my box? ytilauq teknalb? What? Oh! Quality Blanket. Hmm. That gives me an idea.

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"She has this really, really soft fleece blanket and it matches my eyes and I think I saw it last night on her bed. OK, I'm off to find the blanket. I'm good at making caves and hiding away. Ahhhhhh! This is good, no sun but warm as toast and no one else is......

Spoke too soon, here she is again! I need a nap! I need to be hidden! I need to be warm! I need you to go away and LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!! Please.....!?

(Sigh) Oh well, if I close my eyes and pretend to ignore her she will eventually go away. But she's probably going to put my pictures on Friday's Ark and at the Carnival of the Cats. I might even be persuaded to visit as well. The Carnival is hosted this week by For The Junta. (Yaaawwwnnnn) See you there." (Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

Shhhhhh! (end of post)

Perspective

Willow views the world from a new perspective.
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"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." ~ Marcel Proust

Willow is looking at her world from a new perspective. Does she wonder why my nose is suddenly above my eyes or why the grass is growing down from the sky? And the sky! Why is it beneath her feet? Does she think it strange that her kibble stays in a bowl turned wrong side up or consider why the floor has become her ceiling? I doubt it. Willow is probably just thinking to herself, "I'm beautiful from any perspective."

Submission for Thursday Challenge topic "animal". Willow will also be boarding Friday's Ark this week and wants to ride the "Twister" at Carnival of the Cats on Sunday; hosted this week by For The Junta. See you there too!
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Consider The Lily

Daylily (Click picture for larger view)

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." ~ Matthew 6: 28-29

The daylilies were planted with the wildflower seed and for a while they were overwhelmed by them, living in the shadows. Now they have finally bloomed; blossoms of apricot dipped in rich tangerine and long thin stamen coated with the tenacious pollen dust. In preparing for this shot, I came too close, brushed up against the anthers and came away with shirt and skin stained yellow; a small price to pay for such beauty outside my window.

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